Weaving Lives

We were blessed to come across beautiful traditional hand-stitched items by women while working with numerous communities. We always wondered if these could be taken to the market with appropriate compensation. The opportunity finally came in 2019 when we got selected for an open call for a fund in ChristianAid. Also, our friend Prokritee, a fair-trade organization, supported us with the necessary skills to co-create this cooperative business at that time. Many study trips, exposure visits, and training had equipped the

The business grew with small baby steps. Gradually, the community learnt to convert traditional skills into marketable products. They learnt to do costing, calculate their own profit, and scrutinise their own work. At the beginning, a great number of daily necessary products were produced such as laptop bags, tote bags, small purses, pencil bags etc.  After that, they got the confidence to produce bigger products like kanthas, sarees. Their efficiency and intricacy led them to export and participate in World Craft Council Award in reviving a beautiful 80’s traditional kantha. This group got shortlisted in the process.

Weaving Lives has become a hub of accommodating students from home and abroad. Design professionals stayed with artisan families and developed new products. This group got appreciated by the city authorities too. Later, the group built their craft center, as well as a guest house for female visitors. Gradually, the women started to organize the other facilities like kitchen, toilets etc.